June 2008 Issue - Cycling Utah

JUNE 2008 cycling utah.com 11route 211How Could I Forget To MentionThe Bicycle is a Good InventionBy Greg OvertonThat song lyric taken fromthe song titled, appropriately, TheBicycle Song, by the Red Hot ChilePeppers, sums up what many peopleseem to be thinking just about nowas we see gasoline prices rising bythe day at the corner station. Maybethis bicycle thing is the panacea forwhat ails us as a gas guzzling, SUVdriving, oil dependent nation. Thebicycle has witnessed the lifespan ofthe automobile as a mode of transportation;indeed, it gave life to theautomobile by sharing many of itsparts with the original self-propelledwonder of Ing. Benz more than acentury ago.Leave behind the daily grind /And let your mind unwindIf it’s life you tend to like /You’d better get yourself a bike –from the song Bike, by Mal WebbI don’t know about you, but Iseem to notice more bicycles on theroadways and streets as folks turnto it as an alternative means of gettingto work, school, or whatevertheir destination. I wonder if theynotice the by products of this alternativeas they cruise quietly by thegas stations? You know, the extrachange jingling in their pocket, theirincreased energy and the cleaner airwashing over them? If they do thislong enough, they will even be ableto breathe that air deeper and useit more efficiently. Does your carmake you healthier as you drive it?Neither does mine.I want to ride my bicycle/ I wantto ride my bikeI want to ride my bicycle/ I want toride it where I like – from the songBicycle Race, by QueenEven those who protect and serveare turning to the bicycle. Policedepartments around the countryare parking their cars and clippingin. Stefan Downing, who managesthe police bike program forTrek Bicycle Corp., in Waterloo,Wisconsin, says the company sellsmore than 1,000 police bikes a year,but sales have been going up alongwith gas prices. Chris Menton, anassociate professor in the School ofJustice Studies at Roger WilliamsUniversity in Rhode Island who hasstudied police bike patrols, said ina recent interview, “You think thecar’s the great savior of us all, but inurban areas and dense areas, you’reprobably better off on a bike,” Manypolice departments have alreadyreached their yearly fuel budgetand are looking for other means ofpatrolling the streets. And the bikesthey use are getting better and moresophisticated, even incorporatingsilent hubs so there is no click clickclick as they sneak up on the badguys.What a pretty bicycle she said/I want one just like that – from thesong Bicycle Song by OrbitCool cars, fast cars, big cars havelong been a means of attraction,symbolizing everything from wealthto virility. But what about a bike?In a car, even a convertible, you’relucky to see the driver’s head andshoulders. Not a lot to go on. But arider on a bike, considering the useof Lycra, maybe a sleeveless jersey,tanned and muscular form? You kiddin’me? Not exactly a blind date ifyou know your beans. Sure there aresunglasses and hopefully a helmet(shows good judgment and intellectworth keeping) to get past, but it’sstill better than trying to make thecall when looking at a passing car,even if it’s going slow. And if you’reof a certain ilk, the bike alone isworth a look. A classic Italian bikewith chromed lugs and a name thatends in a vowel? How You doin’?Sick of the traffic choking ourtowns… My solution it’s one thatI like….So come on, get up on your bike/Ah, come on, get on your bike –from The Acoustic Motorbike, byLuka BloomAh traffic. We all know abouttraffic. Whether you drive a car orride a bike, traffic is a bummer. It’sthe biggest nemesis to the bicycle.Well, traffic and gravity are numbersone and two. The order changesdepending on, well, on where youare and how much traffic there is.But try this. Get out on your bikeearly some morning, especially aweekend or holiday morning, whenall those cars are still at home. Hearthat? Me neither. It’s so quiet andyou can go everywhere in safety andcalmness. Even the pavement seemssmoother! Take a friend along andyou might even have a conversationat the same time. As an addedbonus, half the vehicles on the roadthat early are probably bread trucks,so you get to smell fresh bakedhalf the times you encounter motorvehicles. What could be better?Peddle UP, peddle DOWN/Peddle ALL around town, on mySchwinn 24 – from Schwinn 24, byTeen TitanAs if the more-than-a-gallonof-milkgas prices aren’t enoughincentive, I’ve just given you a fewexamples and reasons to get out onyour bike. Geez, I’ve even givenyou a few songs to listen to so youcan get the vibe going, too! Nexttime, leave the car at home, takethe bike out, wave to like-mindedpeople who did the same thing andenjoy your increased health as youride, and your increased wealth asyou leave the gas at the pumps. Andyou’ll feel just like this,riding that thing/ I gotta sing/ it’sa blast/ I never believed/ I couldgo so fast – from My New Bicycle,by The Roches.Sorenson LegacyFoundationContributes $40,000 toBikes for Kids UtahSALT LAKE CITY - May13, 2008 - Bikes for Kids Utah,today announced that the SorensonLegacy Foundation has donated$40,000 to help provide newbicycles for 1,000 underprivilegedthird graders during Bikes for KidsUtah's annual bicycle giveaway."Bicycles give children thechance to exercise, learn about safety,develop great skills and just havefun," said Joe Sorenson, trustee ofthe Sorenson Legacy Foundation."We are delighted with this uniqueopportunity to enrich the lives ofkids in our community."In addition, on Saturday, May10, 2008, Cottonwood Cycleryhosted its first Bikes for Kids UtahBicycle Swap to raise money andincrease exposure for the local nonprofitorganization.Each year, Bikes for Kids Utahrelies on contributions from individuals,organizations and businessesto purchase bikes and necessarysafety equipment for children.The organization holds fundraisingevents throughout the year, includingfundraising bicycle rides on theday of the bike giveaway. Everycontribution goes a long way: adonation of $50 can buy a bicycle,helmet, lock and Bikes for KidsUtah shirt for one child, while a $5donation can buy one bike helmetfor a child.To donate or volunteer withBikes for Kids Utah, or for moreinformation about associated fundraisingbicycle events, visit www.bikesforkidsutah.org or call (801)523-3730.